Concrete Expansion Joints

[Basecoat]

Hi All

Back again for advice. I am preparing ground to lay concrete. The area is 5 meters X 6 meters X 100mm deep on a 100mm hardcore bed impregnated with weld mesh. I am planning to use this area to park 2 cars on it.

This is huge area to lay concrete in one go therefore I am planning to lay in three segments. The concrete laid will be ready mixed. Having concrete in my drive both sides are not sealed this is a menace for weeds in spring/summer.

Is there a method of sealing the joints and allowing movement. I believe they used to pour bitumen compound in the joints in the olden days. Is this still done or something different is used. Positive advice will be appreciated.

 

[Norcon]

This is huge area to lay concrete in one go

Sorry but I find this quite funny.
My brother is a concrete laying contractor. A huge area to him is 50mx30m requiring 500 cubic meters and he has done a few of these in a single day with no expansion joints. (4 men!)
But if you really think you need to lay this small amount in three sections then I can give you the name of the product he uses to seal contraction/expansion joints if you wish.
You will also pay quite a high price for "part load" readymix plus you don't want the embarrassment of the delivery driver laughing at you either.

 

[^woody^]

So what were these 300mm thick slabs?

Has your bro returned 1,3, 5 years later to check that no movement or contraction has occurred?

To the OP, you are better off laying this in two bays - with the joint running up the drive. You probably don't need a movement joint, nor expansion joint but you will just form a construction joint - which is just a joint in a natural break in the work.

You wont need to seal it if you pour the new bay tight up against the previous one. A sheet of polythene or DPC can help as a slip plane, but the two bays are best tied together with reinforcement

 

[Basecoat]

This is huge area to lay concrete in one go

Sorry but I find this quite funny.
My brother is a concrete laying contractor. A huge area to him is 50mx30m requiring 500 cubic meters and he has done a few of these in a single day with no expansion joints. (4 men!)
But if you really think you need to lay this small amount in three sections then I can give you the name of the product he uses to seal contraction/expansion joints if you wish.
You will also pay quite a high price for "part load" readymix plus you don't want the embarrassment of the delivery driver laughing at you either.

It may be funny to you my friend. I am doing it by myself. I started digging last friday and believe you me I have dug 1/3rd of the area so far. The ground is clay impregnated with rubble. It is painful. Your brother having four men with him and probably a small digger. laying 500 cu meters concrete with men power and machine is achievable.

All of my neighbours have passed comments that I am extremely brave to take on a huge task by myself. So if concrete delivery driver wants to laugh at me he might get a shock to see how I have single handed dug and prepared the ground all by hand.

 

[Basecoat]

So what were these 300mm thick slabs?

Has your bro returned 1,3, 5 years later to check that no movement or contraction has occurred?

To the OP, you are better off laying this in two bays - with the joint running up the drive. You probably don't need a movement joint, nor expansion joint but you will just form a construction joint - which is just a joint in a natural break in the work.

You wont need to seal it if you pour the new bay tight up against the previous one. A sheet of polythene or DPC can help as a slip plane, but the two bays are best tied together with reinforcement

Hi woody

what is a bay tight.

 

[^woody^]

I don't know

Would a comma help?

 

[Deluks]

I agree with Woody, 2 pours, this is only standard double garage size.

Read all of this...

http://www.pavingexpert.com/concjnt1.htm

 

[Norcon]

I started digging last friday

Dafty diyers. ROFL

 

[Basecoat]

I agree with Woody, 2 pours, this is only standard double garage size.

Read all of this...

http://www.pavingexpert.com/concjnt1.htm[/QUOTE]

Thanks buddy there is lot of information. I have got the idea. I shall visit local builders merchants.

 

[Basecoat]

I started digging last friday

Dafty diyers. ROFL

Hi "Norcon"

I laughed at your comment dafty diyers. I did think at times I am daft to take on huge task but I am ambitious person and don't shy away from challanges.

 

[Basecoat]

I don't know

Would a comma help?

If comma's will do the job I am going to need billions.

 

[noseall]

[ Dafty diyers

...yeah dafty wafty diyers, fancy finding them on this web site eh.